In Conversation with Andrew Lawrie, CTO of Workspend

As a Managed Service Provider (MSP) leveraging technology to drive client success, Workspend proudly announces the upcoming launch of its digital ecosystem, ‘Origin’, scheduled for release in Q1 2026. I had the opportunity to sit down with Andrew Lawrie, Workspend’s CTO, to delve into what makes Origin a pivotal innovation.

What is ‘Origin’?

“Origin is like one doorway into all the different tools,” Andrew explains energetically. “It’s a lot more than just a single access point; it’s a centralised platform allowing users to move effortlessly between modules, much like a Star Trek transporter.”

What does this strategic shift mean for client partnerships?

“Origin is more than technology. It’s our promise to be strategic partners in workforce management. We’re talking about creating and leveraging strategic workforce plans—enabling our clients to achieve their goals with precision and efficacy.”

How does Origin specifically benefit users?

“Origin allows us to give each user access to exactly the modules relevant to them,” Andrew notes. “A hiring manager, for example, will see data related to their hires, while not being bombarded with irrelevant information. This targeted access enhances the user experience and ensures efficiency. Origin means we can be true strategic partners. It enables us to harmonise all tools under a unified journey, supporting not just the contingent workers but overall workforce programmes as a whole”

What has been the journey from WRAP to Origin?

“We started with WRAP, focusing on reporting and analytics. But, we quickly realized this was just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what we could achieve. Origin extends across all our activities, moving beyond a single component to serve as our comprehensive end-to-end platform.”

Handling Change Management with Origin

Discussing the change management approach, Andrew highlights, “By engaging key stakeholders from the start, we ensure that delivered functionalities are those that make a real difference. This way, we’re not imposing unnecessary burdens but building a tool that aligns closely with actual needs.”

Looking Forward: How does Origin innovate strategic workforce goals?

“Origin represents our ability and our commitment to enhance strategic workforce management,” Andrew affirms. “There’s a lot of thought, effort, and innovation going into it, aiming to elevate our partnership and impact, with an emphasis on strategic value creation.”

What excites you most about ‘Origin’ in terms of its business impact?

“Everyone’s going to go, boo, but this answer, but it’s AI,” Andrew admits with a chuckle. “Though cliched, AI is crucial. We’re curating and regulating its use, balancing our proprietary models with large language models for refined, robust functionality.”

Conclusion

For Workspend, ‘Origin’ is more than a tool—it’s a strategic milestone aimed at reducing operational burdens. Fostering adaptability and innovation, it signals a transformative leap forward in managing workforce complexities.

We can’t wait to share more with you as we continue to innovate in the MSP space. Stay tuned!